Paper-making machine.



W. H. MILLSPAUGH.

PAPER MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I8. I911.

Llfi fifia, Patented D30. 7, 1915.

WILLIAM H. MILLSPAUGH, 0F SANDUSKY, OHIO.

PAPER-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1915.

Application filed August 18, 1911. Serial No. 644,853.

To all 11-72-011 1'! may concern:

lie it known that I, WILLIAM H. MILLS- .raiwnr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of paper by ordinary methods, as on a Fourdrinier machine having the usual couches and press rolls, the sheet is subjected to severe pressure tending to crush and distend it, the process being practically one of repeatedly squeezing out water until the. sheet is in condition to be passed over steam driers; and as the water is expressed by the press rolls it forms a puddle at the bite or point of contact of the rolls, so that relatively dry paper 1s running into this puddle, putting the sheet in a mushy state. before passing through the bite of the rolls. These and other causes, as the tendency of the sheet to cling to the surface of the rolls, result in more or less frequent breaks in the web, with consequent trouble, delay and expense. Moreover, as the sheet cannot be safely handled through the presses above certain speeds, the rate of production is accordingly limited.

My present invention is intended to obv ate or lessen these difficulties and to permit the production of paper in a, continuous web at high speeds without breaks or at least with less danger of breaks.

Greater efficiency and economy in manufacture and improvement in the character of the paper are also accomplishedby my invention, the sheet being more advantageously treated and more effectively dried than by expressing water by mechanical compression alone, thus leaving less moisture to be evaporated by the driers.

Other important advantages of my invention are that the life of the felts isprolonged, and the necessity of frequent Washings of the first felt avoided; also that the construction of the press section of the machine is simplified.

The invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawing is a diagrammatic illustration of a paper making machine embodying my invention, being what I now consider the best mode of applying the principle thereof.

In said drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates the endless screen or making Wire of a Fourdrinier wet machine of the type dlsclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 521,535, filed October 7, 1909, the special characteristic of which is the elimination of the usual couch rolls with their accessories, including the customary equipment of flat suction boxes, and the provision of a revolving suction roll 2 at the delivery endof the making wire, which passes around and is driven thereby; said suction roll being adapted to maintain vacuum or suction on a portion of its cylindrical surface in contact with or traversed by the sheet on the making wire, as indicated at 2*, and being connected with a pumping apparatus, (not shown) adapted to maintain a substantially uniform vacuum while handling large volumes of air and Water, so as to force a large amount of air uniformly through the sheet, whereby the sheet is evenly closed and dried and more effectively than by compression between the usual couch rolls, as explained in my application above referred to. In the drawing the fore part of the making Wire, its supporting table rolls and the deckle straps, as well as the front breast roll and flow box, are omitted; only so much of the wet machine being shown as lies between the deckle pulleys and the first felt. After passing over the vacuum surface of the suction roll 2, the sheet is taken from the making wire by hand or mechanically, being preferably blown off by a blast pipe inside the roll, and is deposited upon an endless felt 3 or other suitable carrying medium, hereinafter called the first felt, which is tensioned by a system of rolls 4 and driven by a suction roll 6. This felt carrying the sheet of paper passes between a suction roll 6 and coacting press roll 7 so that said rolls 6 and 7 take the place of the usual first pair of press rolls, the felt serving its usual functions as a supporting and carrying agent and moisture absorbing medium; however,

in this instance the sheet is subject not only to compression'between said rolls but also to the action of vacuum in passing over the vacuum area 6*, that is the portion of the surface of the suction roll 6 which is exposed to the effect of the internal suction, said suction roll being, of course, connected with a suitable pump.

The suction roll 6 has its suction chamber so arranged that the vacuum area. 6 extends on both sides of the bite or point of contact of the rolls, the purpose of which is to remove or extract water and air from the felt or carrying agent on the approaching side and to hold the sheet down upon the felt or carrying agent on the opposite or departing side, preventing it from following and clinging to the press roll 7 Hence the action of the suction roll 6 is not only to dry the sheet of paper, but also to dry the felt and to hold the paper in contact with the felt. The objectionable accumulation of water at the bite of the rolls is of course prevented, and it a is also found that the use of the suction roll in the relation stated exerts a cleansing action upon the 'felt which dispenses with the need of daily washing, as is' common practice.

A second felt or carrying agent 8 tensioned by a system of rolls 9 passes around and is driven by a suction roll 10 which coacts with the roll 5 and with another roll 11, being arranged between them. Both of the rolls 5 and 11 are, like the roll 7, press or squeeze rolls. The suction roll 10, connected with a suitable vacuum pump, is

equipped with two suction chambers or their equivalent, so as to provide suction areas 10 and 10", one adjacent the press roll 11. The vacuum area 10 extends on both sides of the bite or point of contact of rolls 5 and 10,

while the vacuum area 10 lies on the side of the bite between rolls 10 and 11 which is approached by the sheet in its transit. The action of the suction chamber 10 is to remove by vacuum any surplus moisture and air from the first felt 3, as well as from the sheet of paper, and to cause the sheet to cling to the second felt 8 after having passed the bite. The second felt carrying the sheet, then passesover the suction chamber 10 by means of which air and water is removed from the said second felt and disposed of; but after the paper has passed the bite of rolls 10 and 11 there is no further tendency for it to cling to the felt, and the roll 11 will pick the sheet from the felt and carry it around said roll from which it is removed to the driers 13; or coacting with the roll 11 there may be an additional roll 12 of rubber, stone, wood or composition. The paper asses bare between these rolls 11 and 12 whlch smooths out any impressions of the felts.

It will be noted that the felts 3 and 8 are arranged to take the sheet on opposite sides, obviating the difficulty of tipping the paper over in order to get the smoothing effect and pressure on both sides of the sheet. In the combination shown five rolls perform the functions of the six press rolls of the ordinary Fourdrinier machines, such machines being commonly equipped with three pairs of press rolls, the sheet being usually carried on felts through the first and second the presses until the time for the removal of the same; and no breaks of the paper can likely occur on the felts, so that the machine can safely be run at high speed.

The squeeze rolls coacting with the suction rolls may be moistened to keep their surfaces in condition, and may be supplied with the usual doctors to prevent the paper from carrying around said rolls when it is first passed through them. Any suitable type of suction roll mechanically adapted to operate with heavy vacuum and to maintain vacuum on a portion of a cylindrical surface may be used. I prefer the type of suction roll disclosed in my Reissued Patent No. 1300, dated April 19, 1910, in combination with a positive rotary vacuum pump as set forth in my pending application, Serial No. 521,535, aforesaid. It will be understood the effective vacuum surfaces of the rolls are no wider than the sheet of paper, for which purpose,

'on account of the different widths which are manufactured, the suction chambers of the rolls should be provided with adjustable end packing heads, as well understood in the art; an illustration being given in my said pending application.

While the preferred and most advantageous embodiment of my invention is with a Fourdrinier web machine of the character herein noted, it may also be advantageously applied to ordinary Fourdrinier and other types of paper machines; the arrangement of the felts and coacting suction and squeeze rolls may also be modified in a variety of ways, and the number of coacting rolls also varied; thus in its broadest aspect my invention comprehends the first felt 3 and coacting rolls 6 and 7, or any equivalent arrangement, without essentially including the second felt and rolls 5, 10, 11; hence I do not intend to restrict myself to the specific construction illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a paper machine, a suction roll, and felt or other carrying agent which passes with the sheet over and covers the vacuum area of said suction roll, and a press roll in contact or coacting with the suction roll where suction is taking place.

2. In a paper machine, a felt or other carrying agent for the sheet, and a suction roll having a vacuum area covered by said felt and coacting press or squeeze roll between which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, the vacuum area of the suction roll extending to both sides of the bite or point of contact of said rolls, for the purpose of removing water and air from the felt or carrying agent on one side and holding the sheet down upon the felt or carrying agent on the other side.

3. In apaper machine, a felt or other sheet carrying agent, and a suction roll having a vacuum area covered by said felt and coacting press roll between which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, the suction roll being adapted to exert suction in advance of the bite or point of contact between the rolls so as to remove the water which is expressed.

4. In a paper machine, a felt or other sheet carrying agent, and a suction roll having a vacuum area covered by said felt and coacting press roll between which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, the suction roll having vacuum surfacebehind the bite or point of contact of the rolls to hold down the sheet on the felt or carrying agent and prevent it from following the press roll.

5. In a. paper machine, a felt or other carrying agent, two pairs of coacting rolls be tween which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, each pair of rolls comprising a suction roll and a press roll, the suction rolls being arranged to apply suction to opposite sides of the sheet.

6. In a paper machine, a plurality of pairs of coacting rolls, each including a press roll and suction roll, and felt or other sheet conveying means passing with the sheet between each pair of rolls.

7. In a paper machine, a plurality of pairs of coacting rolls, each including a suction roll and press roll, and sheet conveying means passing with the sheet between each pair of rolls. I

8. In a paper machine, a plurality of suction rolls and press or squeeze rolls coacting upon the sheet being made, the rolls of the several pairs being arranged to apply suction and pressure on both sides of the sheet.

9. In a paper machine, two felts or other sheet carrying agents from one of which the sheet is transferred to the other, and a suction roll and coacting press roll, the felts or carrying agents passing in the same direction between said rolls, whereby moisture is extracted by the pressure, the felts and the suction, and the transfer is eflected by sue-- tion.

10. In a paper machine, a felt or other moisture absorbing sheet carrying agent, a press roll around which it passes, a second felt or other moisture absorbing carrying agent, a suction roll around which the latter passes, said rolls coacting where suction is taking place.

11. In a paper machine, a felt or other moisture absorbing sheet carrying agent, a press roll around which it passes, a second felt or other moisture absorbing carrying agent, a suction roll around which the latter passes, said rolls coacting where suction is taking place, and said suction roll having a vacuum area on both sides of the bite or point of contact of the rolls, whereby water and air is removed at one side and the sheet is sucked onto the second felt on" the other side of the bite.

12. In a paper machine, a felt or other sheet carrying agent, a press roll around which it passes, a second 'felt or sheet carrying agent, a suction roll around which the latter passes, having a vacuum area covered by said second felt, said rolls coacting where suction is taking place, and another press roll coacting with said suction roll at a point beyond.

13. In a paper machine, a felt or other sheet carrying agent, a press roll around or over which it passes, a second felt or sheet carrying agent, a suction roll around which the latter passes, said rolls coacting where suction is taking place, and another press roll coacting with said suction roll at a point beyond and where the suction area ends.

14. In a paper machine, two felts or other sheet carrying agents, coacting rolls on which they respectively pass, one being a press roll and the other a suction roll arranged to effect transfer of the sheet from one felt or carrying agent to the other, the.

vacuum area of said suction roll extending at both sides of the bite or point of contact of the rolls.

15. In a paper machine, a roll and a felt or other sheet carrying agent in contact therewith, a suction roll and a second felt or other sheet carrying agent in contact therewith, said rolls coacting where suction is taking place, and. another press roll beyond coacting with said suction roll where suction is taking place.

16. In a paper machine, a roll and a felt or sheet carrying agent in contact therewith,

a suction roll coacting with said roll and having a second felt or other sheet carrying agent in contact therewith, said suction roll having a vacuum area at both sides of the bite or point of contact between said rolls, and another roll coacting with said suction roll which also has a vacuum area in advance of the bite or point of contact of the suction roll and last mentioned roll.

17. In a paper machine, a felt or other sheet carrying agent, a suction roll and coacting press roll between which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, another coacting suction roll and press roll between which the felt or carrying agent passes with the sheet, the last mentioned suction roll having a second felt or carrying agent thereon and being relatively aron both sides of the bite of the first coactmg roll and having a vacuum area only in advance of the bite of the last coasting roll.

19. In a paper machine, a suction roll and plurality of rolls coacting therewith, and a felt or other sheet carrying agent passing with the sheet in contact with said suction roll and between it and the coacting rolls, said suction roll adapted for application of suction at the bites of the coacting rolls but only in advance of the bite of the last coacting roll, whereby the sheet will follow the said last roll.

20. In a paper machine, a suction roll and a plurality of coacting rolls, a felt or other sheet carrying agent passing with the sheet between the suction roll and first coacting roll, and a second felt or other sheet carrying agent traveling in contact with said suction roll and passing between it and the second co-acting roll.

21. In a paper machine, a suction roll and a. plurality of coacting rolls, a felt or other sheet carrying agent passing with the sheet between the suction roll and first coacting roll, and a second felt or other sheet carrying agent traveling in contact with said suction roll and passing between it and the other roll, there being no application of suction beyond the bite of the last coacting roll, and a press roll coacting with the said last roll to press and smooth the sheet after leaving the suction roll;

22. In a paper machine, a suction roll and a plurality of press rolls coacting therewith, and a felt or other sheet carrying agent covering the vacuum area of said suction roll and passing with the sheet in contact with said suction roll and between it and the other rolls.

23. In a paper machine, a suction roll and coacting press roll, a felt or other sheet carrying agent passing with the sheet between said rolls, and a second felt or carrying agent passing in contact with the suction roll and adapted to take the sheet from the first felt, said suction roll exerting suction at the bite of each coacting roll.

2%. In a paper machine, a suction roll and coacting press roll, afelt or other sheet carrying agent passing with the sheet between said rolls, the suction roll having thereon a sheet carrying agent covering the vacuum area of said suction roll and adapted to take the sheet from the first felt or carrying agent, and another press roll coacting with the suction roll and arranged to carry the sheet therefrom.

25. In a paper machine, the combination with means for forming the sheet, of a felt or other sheet carrying agent, and coacting rolls between which the same passes, with the sheet, including a suction roll and press roll, suction being exerted at the bite of said rolls, the vacuum area of said suction roll being covered by said felt.

26. In a paper machine, the combination with a making wire and suction roll over which it passes, of a felt or other carrying 1 agent upon which the sheet is taken from the making wire, and coacting press and suction rolls between which the felt or carryingagent passes with the sheet, suction being exerted at the bite of said rolls, the vacuum area of said suction roll being covered by said felt.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MILLSPAUGH. Witnesses:

H. D. JAMEsoN, O. J. WORTH. 

